As many of us continue to ‘stay home for Nevada’ to slow the spread of the coronavirus, thousands of Nevada public service workers continue to head into work to provide services that are vital to the health, safety and wellbeing of our communities.
We are doing our part to keep our commitment of quality service to the communities we serve. But our state needs help from Washington DC. Click here to demand that Congress fund the front lines.
Health care and mental health workers continue to continue to support clients and patients at state mental and behavioral health care residential facilities. Custodial and maintenance workers continue the upkeep at public colleges and universities, state facilities, and our roads. Correctional staff are working in dangerous conditions as they keep our communities and those in custody safe. Social service workers continue to provide programs that Nevadans rely on for educational, mental, behavioral or economic support. Administrative and professional services continue to keep state business running. City and County employees keep up with public works projects to keep services going. Thousands of AFSCME Local 4041 members just keep doing their jobs, risking their lives to provide essential services.
The relief packages passed by Congress were a good start but did not do enough to help public service workers on the front lines. Workers continue to face a hodgepodge of safety policies and standards in the workplace, a lack of protective equipment and cleaning supplies, and the daily threat of contracting COVID-19 in the workplace.
With additional federal aid, our state can support workers by providing the necessary safety equipment and cleaning supplies, as well as implement a policy of hazard pay for those that continue to report to open facilities to perform essential work duties.
But Congress needs to know how we are putting our lives on the line and how additional emergency aid will help keep workers, and the communities we serve, safe.
When our communities need us the most, AFSCME members step up and fulfil our duties. Even during a crisis, our health and safety should be a priority for our employer. Together we can push for the changes we need to safely do our jobs.
